I think Stoudemire's reputation as a "go-to scorer" is overrated, and I felt that even while he was in Phoenix, although I did like him as a player (and still do). Over and over I watched games in which the Suns would try to force-feed Stoudemire down the stretch and it didn't work. (By the way, I watched the New York feed for last night's game, and Walt "Clyde" Frazier made the same point: That's just not Stoudemire's strength.) He is too easily frustrated by big players who hold their ground against him (like Gortat did last night), and he never diversified his post moves enough to become less predictable in that position. Pretty much the only thing he has added to his game since entering the league is improved mid-range shooting, which he usually doesn't trust in tight spots. You're talking about someone who shot only 50% from the field last season, which is only about average for an All-Star big man, and that's with all of his highlight-reel dunks.
True enough, I agree with most of what you said. Still, in terms of big men, I think you can maybe count on one hand the number of guys that are as talented offensively as Amare. Amare put up amazing numbers in the first half of last season, and then D'A ran him into the ground (shocking, I know) and the Melo disaster happened. With the team being 20-22 since the addition of Melo, I think that's all you need to know about how that trade worked, and it's impact on Amare.
Further, I don't think there is a better big man running the pick and roll than Amare, and he has nobody to run it with. Why even have Amare on the team if you're not going to use his overwhelming strength?
Not sure if you saw it or not, but after the game, Nash and Amare were talking for a couple minutes, and it was pretty obvious how much both appreciate and miss the impact of the other. You put Amare back with Nash, and I guarantee his shooting percentage goes up, and he's back to the old Stat.
It's a real shame for both Nash and Amare, Nash rotting away with a insulting joke of a roster, as his career slips away in limbo, while Amare stands around and watches melo chuck shot after shot, effectively marginalizing one of the best offensive weapons in the game.
Whether or not we had a legitimate chance of winning a championship is somewhat irrelevant to me. Just the opportunity to watch that combination, and know that the team would be entertaining if not very successful is a bitter pill to swallow, as our team fights and claws our way to the bottom.
If you magically add Stoudemire to this year's Suns team, then compare that roster to the Nash/Stoudemire teams that went to the WCF, I think you'll find that they aren't close.
Aren't close? In comparison to the 2009-10 team, I'd say we're definitely weaker at SG, and backup PG, but much better at C. I would give a slight edge to the 09-10 team, but add a better SG, and I'd probably take this team.
both Nash and Stoudemire are less effective now than they were several years ago.
I don't know how much I'd agree with this. Nash continues to put up similar numbers despite losing his #1 target, and through the first half of last year, Amare was an MVP candidate. While maybe not as good as before, I think together they'd put up very similar #'s to in 09-10.
The Suns will have to rebuild mainly through the draft and hope to be in the right place at the right time when a star comes on the FA market or goes on the trading block. I agree that nothing dramatic is likely to happen this summer. There is no quick fix. Hopefully the front office will remain patient this time instead of blowing the money on a bunch of stupid deals on role players again.
Yeah, these are dark days indeed, the worst by far in a very long time. Even during the Marbury years, we still had Marion in his prime, along with Joe Johnson and Amare. There was at least something you could point to as hope for the future. For the good of the franchise, we really need to hit another home run in the draft, because with the way the league is structured, good players from this point on are unlikely to change teams.
